Book-holder.



C. H. BARTLETT.

BOQK HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED DEC.20. 1913.

L. Patented im I5, m8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. H. BARTLETT.

BOOKHOLDER. APPLICATION FILED DEc.20, |913.

Patented.v Jan. 15, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIII i @$657 wage@ misa' 7 ,f L @i entre stares ingenieria? onion.

GII-IldiillilS.il-I.A BARTLET'll,-OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. i

. BOOK-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern Be it `known that I, Ci-iAnLns-H; BART# nier-T, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a i. resident ofCambridge, -in the county .0f;, Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,.have

invented Certain lnew and 'usefulsinprovements in Book-Holders, of. which Lthefolsf lowing is a speciiication.

This invention relates to holderssfor sup-x porting books in opened or closed positions, and the object of the present invention is :tof:

provide suoli a device especially adapted for large books such asdictionaries, cit-y direc.

tories, etc.

The improved holderiszconstructedso as-v to hold the book on either. onefside or the i other, or to present it openedy or iclosed, atY any angle from the,horizontaltdnearly a perpendicular position, the constructionbeing .suoli as to permit the" bookto be opened fromright toleft or from leftitoright to any extent desired, imeans being also .pro-x.A vided to relievethe binding from any strain.

from the weight of the leavesiand-to sustain the leaves at all `times in their proper posi@ tions without anyA sagging,.curling or` closed toward the point ofview; i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation withl theI platform in horizontal position instead of being.

tilted, andy with thebook open;

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 315-3 of Fig. 2, on alarger scale,V

Fig. l is a plan View of the holder, omit-I ting the book, and witlithelparts in the ,pos sitions in Awhich theyare :represented in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a ViewY similarto Fig. 1, ona

smaller scale, and with theplatform in zontal position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portionof the device shown at the in Fig-f2,

with the bookclosed;

Fig. 7 is a view similar toa portionof Fig. e, butwith the parts in the position which they closed;.`

`Specification 4of Letters Patent.

inyimproved bookholderin `one, of itseinbodi7gments, a book being shown in position butoccupy in Fig. 6, the bool; beingf Patented Jan. 15, 191%;

Application fildDecembei 20, 1912?.;` Serial No.'807,907l

Fig. S represents a detail section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, on a larger scale.`

lar-.parts in all of the views.

a flat rim 11` to enable said base to -iest `upon The base 10, preferably ofshe'et vmetal having. the shape of a truncated -.cone,fhasl Similar reference characters indicate simi# '-60 a desk or other surface without mai-ring tlie-` latter. .i The. central raised flat portion "125` supportsa disk 13, a connecting screw V14C` re'- tain'ing these parts in position ibut enablingat` -thedisk 13 and all of theinechanism above it to belrotated relatively to the base link other words, thescrew provides a swiveled1= connection between the base andthesuper structure. Rising from the disklV is an'upright 15 to. which ispivotally connected an ear '1G extending downwardly from the strengthening rib or web 17 ofthe center bar 18 ofthe platform. A bolt19passingff throughthe ear 16 and upright 15, and heldin position by a wing nut 20, provides a pivotal connection whichenables the book platform to be shifted vto horizontal-0r in`v` clined position, as indicated by comparing Figs. 1 and 5. Any` suitable frictionmaterial may be interposed between the facesof the ear 16 and upright 15, and by inanipu` lating the wing nut 20 in a well understood*l manner, the friction may be increased "or" diminished as may be desired toienableithe book platform to Vbeconveniently tilted more or less, and secured in the desired adjustment. To prevent the wing nut Afrom shiftingfrom the position givento it,1I provide 1 a suitable nut lock such as a strip Q1 (Figsf 1 and 4l) connected at one end to? the heady 1end of the bolt so that thebolt cannot rotate relatively to thefstrip, the otheriend of said. strip engaging the innerface ofthelnutQO to prevent said nut-from becoming loosened f accidentally. I do notclaim thenut lock herein, as any other suitablemeans may be .provided for `holding thenut in its adjusted position, and therefore I don not 4illustrate all ofthe details of thenut lock.` i

Theplatform 22, which may consist, as

indicated in Fig. t, of substantiallyrectan-- gular-sliaped metal having a dat book-sup-`- porting upper surface,.is suitably `secured at its mid-width, as by brazingor rivets or i otherwise, to the bar 18, saidplatforniibeing strengthenedby `Struts 23 having their inner bent ends secured as by a screw or bolt 24 (Fig. 2) to the web 17 of the bar 18, the outer ends of the struts being secured to the under surface of the platform, preferably by rivets, as indicated in Fig. 4.

One end of the bar 1S is formed Vwith an upwardly projecting bracket having ears 2G (Figs. '2 and 4) between which are pivotedA the, slide-controlling arms hereinafter described,

lVhat may be referred to as the lower edge of the platform, because it is the edge which is lowest when the platform is tilted in the proper direction for reference to a bookV mounted thereon, is provided with brackets 27 `(Figs. 3 and 7). AThese brackets might be integral portions of the platform, but

for` convenience of manufacture they coinprise separate plates bent to shape and secured to the platform by suitable means as by rivets 28. Each of said brackets includes a fiange 29 below and parallel with the plane of the platform :22, said flange 29 having a slot 30, the object ofV which will be presently explained. At the outer end of the flange 29 is an upturned ear 31, the chief purpose of which is to facilitate the proper location of the book preparatory to -securing it to the book holder as hereinafter described. Said ears 31 project far enough above the plane of the platform 22 to cngage the lower edge of the cover a of the dictionary or other book A, as indicated in F ig. 2.

I' will new describe the means illustrated which restrain the book covers from lateral movement when they book is open or when 1t is closed either to the right or to the left on the'platform. Said means comprise projections or studs 47 carried by the clamps which are engaged with the bookA cover, which ,projections or studs, as hereinafter described, removably fit sockets 32 which are. adjustably supported byv the flanges 29 (F igs. 3 and 7 Each oftlie two sockets 32 has a threaded stem 33 projecting through'the slot 30 in flange Q9, and having 35 interposed between the` bottoms of the socket studs and the flangesY Q9. By means ofthe-nuts 34the socket studs 32`mav be adjusted `towardlorY from the mid-width of the platform accordingcto the thickness of the book. As hereinafter described, the projections or studs 47 which engage the sockets are rigidlyfconnected to the covers of the book. 'I` he thicker the book the greater the lThe back binding of the book occupies the midwidth of the platfornrwheii the book is open. Therefore the two projections or studs carried by the covers of thebook will be al greater or lesser distance apart when the bookis open, as in Fg.--2,faccording to preventany lateral shifting of the book. j

`When the book is closed either to the right or left, the interengagement of the members referred to will prevent any lateral shifting of the book relatively to the platform.

To provide sliding connections between the pivoted. arms hereinafter described and the covers of the book, I provide guides which are clamped to the lower edges of the book .covers a. Each of these guides comprises an inner str1p36 which is clamped against the `outer surface of the book cover ci, and an outer parallel strip 37, these two strips being either integral with each other or formed of separate pieces secured together. These guides are secured to the book covers by clamps 38, 39, ,the clamps 38 being referred to as the innerclamps, since they are nearer the mid-width of the book Y when open, and the clamps 39 being referred to as the outer clamps. Each clamp consists of a U-shaped strip, onev end of which extends in between the `guide strips 36, V37, the other end being adapted tov engage the inner surface 0f the book cover a, betweenV said ybook cover'and the first leaf of the book. f

Theportion ofthe U-shaped clampstrip which extendsfbetween the guide strips 37, has a threaded aperture to .which a screw i 40 is fitted, the screw passing loosely through ioo Va hole in theguide strip 37 and bearing at Y i its inner end againsttheguide strip 3 Gs`o that, byactuating'the screw 40 intheproper directioii,tlie portion of the clamp which v,extends in between the book cover a and the leaves ofthe book will be brought down tightly against the book cover. It will now .f

be understood thateach book cover c has its lower edgeclamped between the guide strip 36 and portions of the clamps 38, 39. a nut34 engaged with it below said fiange. Preferably I employ one or more washers.

The clamps 39- are shown as `provided with ears 41 which are set in from the outerfpor tions of the clamps which embrace theedg'es of the covers a, as clearly shownin Fig. 1, ,A f

said ears 41 having their inner faces in a plane sufficiently inside of the extreme edges 0f the covers ato support the leaves which are nearest to the book covers, when the bookis open. In Fig. 1 .the book is shown as closed, and in Fig. 2 the book is open. If the platform is horizontal leaf-edge supporters described, I provide leaf-edge'supporters Which are hinged and especially support the' majority of the A leaves of the book. find `1t desirablehowever to employ the additional leaf supporters 4l. i

'Fitted to slide between the guide strips 36,537, are blocks 42` (Figs. 2'and S), said blocks having means for `retainingl them in slifdingenga-gement with the guides. Two arms .43 connect the two slide blocks with the platform. Each arm 43 has its outer ei'idprovided withan aperture internally threaded to receive the end of a screw 44 whiclnpasses through the slide block and through a spacing collar 45. The two screws 44 provide pivotal connections between the outer ends of the two arms 43. and the slide blocks, while the spacing collars 45 insure the existence of sufficient space between the arms and the book to permit of the operation of opening and closing the book as hereinafterv described. The 'meeting inner ends of the two arms 43 are each half cut away and overlapped, as indicated in Fig. 7, and pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 46 supported in the ears 26 on the platform bracket 25, said pivot pin being offset upwardly from the plane of the book-'supporting surface o-f the platform.

As shown by comparing Figs. 6 and 7, a tapered stud or projection 47 is carried by a bracket 48 at the inner end of each guide that is clamped to the book cover. These tapered `studs or projections 47 engage the socket studs 32 when the book is open as in Fig. 2 and prevent any possibility of the bc-ok slipping. lllhen the book is closed as in Fig. 6, one stud 47 remains in engagement with a socket stud 32.

Leaf supporting links 49, jointed together at 50, are mounted upon pivots 5l carried by ears 52 of the arms 43. The inner edge of this jointed leaf supporter formed by the links 49 is in position, as shown in Fig. l, to support the leaves of the book without any possibility of their sagging to the slightest extent. This is because the said inner edge, like the inner faces of the leaf supporting ears 4l, is offset inwardly from the arms 43 and is inside of the plane of the edges of the book covers. Obviously, with a comparatively thin book, the jointed leaf supporter 49 might be dispensed with, the leaf 'supporting ears 41 being, in such case, of a length sufficient to hold the leaves against sagging. These leaf supporters are designed especially with reference to books having stiff covers. All books with stiff covers are so made that the edges of the covers project considerably beyond the edges of the leaves. As shown in Fig. 1, the jointed leaf supporter 49 and also the leaf supporting ears 41 extend inwardly to a plane inside of the plane of the book cover edges.

In use, a book is placed upon the platform with the lower edges of its covers close to the ears 31 (Fig. 2), and the portions of the clamps 38, 39, which are adapted to project into position overlapping'the inner` surfaces of the book covers, are caused to clamp' the book covers, by operation of the clamp screws 40, as hereinbefore described. Then the book is adapted to be closed either to the right as shown in Fig. 6, or over to the left,`the platform having an area to support the book in either one of the positions mentioned. During'the opening or closing of the book, one or the other of the slide blocks must shift along the guide strips, in order to retain the parts in their operative positions without interfering with the opening or closing. ln effect the two links or members of the jointed leaf supporter 49 are pivotally connected to the clamps which are engaged with the book covers,\because they are pivoted to the ears 52 of the arms`43, and the latter are pivotally connected at 44 with the sliding portions of the clamps. Therefore the jointed leaf supporter 49 will always be in position to `support all of the leaves of the book excepting possibly a few of the leaves nearest to the covers, Whether thebook is opened at the middle or almost all. of the leaves are -turned over to the right or the left.

fiaving described my invention, l claim:

l. A book-holder comprising a platform having a substantially flat book-supporting surface, adapt-ed to support a book when open or when closed either to the right or to the left, and a fixed bracket projecting upwardly from the central portion of one of its edges, a pair of book-cover-confining arms having meeting inner ends pivoted to said bracket at a common point which is offset upwardly from the plane of said supporting surface, and means for establishing sliding pivotal connections between the outer ends of said arms and the two covers of a book, said arms being adapted to connect the two covers with the bracket and confine the book against displacement on the platform, whether the book be open or closed either to the right or to the left.

2. A book-holder comprising a platform having a substantially fiat book-supporting surface, adapted to support a boo-k when open or when closed either to the right or to the left, and a fixed bracket projecting upwardly from the central portion of one of its edges, a pair of book-cover-conlining arms having meeting inner ends pivoted to said bracket at a common point which is offset upwardly from the plane of said supporting surface, a pair of elongated guides attachable in alinemcnt with each other to corresponding end portions of the two covers of a book, and slides movable in said guides and pivoted to the outer ends of said arms.

3. A book-holder comprising a platform having a substantially fiat book-supporting surface, adapted to support a book when open or when closed either to the right or tothe left, and a fixed bracket projecting upwardly from the central portion of one of its edges, a pair of book-cover-confilling arms having meeting inner ends pivoted Vto said bracket at a common point which is offset upwardly from the plane of said supporting surface, means for establishing sliding pivotal connections between the outer ends of said arms and the two covers of a book, and a leaf edge supporter composed of two links having meeting innerends pivoted to each other, and outer ends pivoted to said arms, the inner edges of'said links being offset inwardly from the arms and arranged to bear on the edges of the leaves of an open book and prevent said leaves from sagging.

14. A book holder comprising a single substantially Hat platform having an area to support a book when open or when closed to the right or left, clamps for connection with the covers of a book, guides engaged with said clamps, slides movable in said guides, movable connections between said slides and platform, and a leaf-edge supporter comprising two `links pivotally connected to each other and to the slides and free to swing with the covers of the book, said members being formed and mounted to Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing present supports e for the leaves when theV book is either partly or wholly open.

5. A book holder comprising a book resty 6; A book holder comprising a platform having adjustable sockets, and coverV clamps having projections adapted to enter said sockets when the book is open.

7. A book holder comprising a platform, means for connecting a book with said plat.- form, said connecting means being movable to permit the book to be supported bythe platform when closed tothe right or left, and adjustable devices for restraining 4the book covers from lateral movement when the book is open or when it is closed to the right or to the left.

In testimonyy whereof I have aiiixed my signature,'in presence oit' two witnesses.

CHARLESH. BARTLETT.

'Witnesses A. W. HARRISON, P. `W. PnzzETfrI.

Washington, D. C.

Y the Commissioner of Patents, 

